From The Innkeepers

The Gift of a Song
A Blog for October 2024

This past month we were, for the second time in our history, gifted with the composition of a song.  Its music is to the tune of ‘My Favorite Things” from the Sound of Music.  The lyrics were written by our friend and frequent visitor, Michelle.

Marcia and Pat

Ryan and Sharon

A gaggle of geese,

And a really loud heron.

Cows lowing softly,

Birds flying by,

I just took a moment to gaze at the sky

Spaces to be that feel perfect and right,

Warm sun by day, and bright stars in the night.

Great food like stuffed squash and chocolate ganache

Wonder exactly how much weight I’ve lost?

Even though sadness may visit awhile

In the next moment I’ll laugh and I’ll smile

Here I am safe I will not come to harm

Even though my cane sets off an alarm

Painting and sewing

Always knowing that a change will come,

You can’t have an ending

Without a new start

You’ll always be in our hearts.

As the days of 2024 wind down, we are acutely aware that the end of our time living here and caretaking the Inn, is coming to a close.  As Michelle said, “You can’t have an ending without a new start”.  But we have every intention of making that “new start” include a time when we return to the Inn and visit each group that has meant so much to us over the years.

Her last sentence of the lyrics reminds me of a poem by e.e. cummings- “I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart….”.  It is true.  We do, and we will.

We are grateful for the many hearts that we have touched and for the promise that we will be fondly remembered.  It is part of the fulfillment of our life journey.  We can look back on these times with great gratitude for how you have touched and changed our lives.

We are here because of the inspiration found in the writings of Angeles Arrien.  Of the Eight Gates of Initiation that she writes about in her book “The Second Half of Life”, what is happening to us now, is certainly a “Gold Gate” moment, as is every ending we have ever experienced prior to this one.  Yet while we pledge to return often and visit, what we have learned about this rite of passage so far is that while it is important to acknowledge and be grateful for the past, it is also equally important not to live in it.  It is indeed a tricky balancing act.  We’ll figure it out together though-that is the beauty of this place, and I have faith that each of you will help be part of our process of “honorable closure” as we navigate life in these next ten months.

Gratefulness and  blessings be yours,

Marcia, Pat, Sharon, and Ryan

Keepers of the Rustic Gate